Troubleshooting Without Diagnostics

Solving Printer Problems

If you encounter printer problems, see the documentation that came with the printer and to the common causes and solutions listed in the following table.

Solving Printer Problems

Problem

Cause

Solution

 

 

 

Printer will not print.

Printer is not turned on

Turn the printer on and make sure it

 

and online.

is online.

 

 

 

 

The correct printer

1. Install the correct printer driver

 

drivers for the

for the application.

 

application are not

2. Try printing using the

 

installed.

 

MS-DOS command:

 

 

 

 

DIR C:\ > [printer port]

 

 

where [printer port] is the

 

 

address of the printer being

 

 

used. If the printer works, reload

 

 

the printer driver.

 

 

 

 

If you are on a network,

Make the proper network

 

you may not have made

connections to the printer.

 

the connection to the

 

 

printer.

 

 

 

 

 

Printer may have failed.

Run printer self-test.

 

 

 

Printer will not turn on.

The cables may not be

Reconnect all cables and check the

 

connected properly.

power cord and electrical outlet.

 

 

 

Printer prints garbled

The correct printer

Install the correct printer driver for

information.

driver for the

the application.

 

application is not

 

 

installed.

 

 

 

 

 

The cables may not be

Reconnect all cables.

 

connected properly.

 

 

 

 

 

Printer memory may be

Reset the printer by turning it off for

 

overloaded.

one minute, then turn it back on.

 

 

 

Printer is offline.

The printer may be out

Check the paper tray and refill it if

 

of paper.

it is empty. Select online.

 

 

 

Troubleshooting Guide

www.hp.com

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